Services

I help founders, investors, and companies build credible businesses, scale production, earn media credibility, and capture value at the right moment. My advisory work is practical, direct, and grounded in more than 50 years of building, engineering, and selling companies.

I do not sell theory. I work with clients who have real products, real ambition, and respect for market timing

Who I work with

I work with founders of startups and scale-ups, investors, and established companies in green tech, manufacturing, and international trade. Typical clients are:

Building a real product and preparing to scale production.
Entering new international markets or trade corridors.
Seeking media credibility and inbound trust.
Preparing the business for its next stage, including exit readiness.

1. Build-to-Exit Strategy

Structuring the business so it becomes credible and attractive to buyers.

Many founders build a company and only think about exit when a buyer appears. That is too late. I help clients structure the business, operations, and financial story before the market comes knocking.

What this can include:

Clarifying the exit thesis and buyer profile.
Strengthening the operational and financial narrative.
Identifying what buyers will question and fixing it early.
Preparing a credible roadmap for the next stage.

Outcome: a company that is credible, understandable, and exit-ready — not a company that depends on hype.

2. Engineering & Manufacturing Scale-Up

Moving from prototype to reliable production without losing quality or control.

I have designed and manufactured complex industrial systems, biodiesel refineries, reactors, production equipment, HDPE tanks, stainless-steel frames, and commercial algae cultivation systems in my own factory. I understand the factory floor, production limits, quality risks, and cost discipline.

What this can include:

Design-for-manufacturing review.
Production scale-up planning.
Quality control and supplier discipline.
Cost, material, and process trade-offs.

Outcome: reliable production that supports growth instead of becoming the bottleneck.

3. Media-Led Credibility

Turning real substance into earned media and inbound trust.

I do not chase customers. I build credibility that makes customers, partners, and investors come to you. My work and earlier innovations have been featured by CNN, Canadian television, Dutch television, and on the cover of Biodiesel Magazine.

What this can include:

Sharpening the story so it is genuinely newsworthy.
Identifying the right media, trade publications, and interview angles.
Building a credibility plan around proof, not hype.
Converting attention into qualified inbound enquiries.

Outcome: credibility that travels — so the market comes to you.

4. International Market Entry

Using experience in Asia, the Americas, and the Caribbean to navigate trade corridors, distribution, and market timing.

Entering a new market is not only a sales question. It is a question of timing, partners, compliance, distribution, and credibility. I help clients think through the market before they spend money in it.

What this can include:

Market and corridor assessment.
Partner and distribution strategy.
Market timing and entry sequencing.
Practical cross-border business development.

Outcome: a clearer, lower-risk path into new markets.

How engagements work

Introductory conversation — we discuss the opportunity, the problem, and the timing.
Written scope — if there is a fit, we agree on the scope, deliverables, and fees in writing.
Paid diagnostic, sprint, or advisory retainer — the work starts only after clear written terms.

I do not guarantee any specific business result, valuation, exit, acquisition interest, investment return, or fundraising outcome. I provide strategy, experience, and execution guidance. Results depend on market conditions, timing, and client execution.

Let’s talk

Are you building a real product, scaling a manufacturing business, entering a new market, or preparing your company for its next stage?

Contact me for a strategic conversation.

Email: hans@jvandeven.com
Website: jvandeven.com
Location: The Netherlands